Tyrone crash claims lives of two young GAA players

Two young GAA players have died in a serious two-vehicle road traffic collision on the main Omagh to Ballygawley Road.

It happened near to meat factory on the A5 Doogary Road just after 08:00 GMT on Saturday.

The deceased have been named locally as Killian Doherty from Drumquin and Maurice McCloughan from Fintona.

Mr Doherty played for the Drumquin Wolfe Tones GAA club.

A post on the ‘Drumquin Through The-Years’ Facebook page read: “Devastating news reaching us this morning with the news that we have lost Killian Doherty in a early morning accident outside Omagh.

“Killian was familiar to us all having worked in McKenna’s shop in the village and was always polite and mannerly in any exchange with him.”

Police have said the road is expected to remain closed for some time.”

Mr McCloughan played for his local Fintona Pearses club.

It posted online: “Our club has been hit with the tragic news that club player Maurice McCloughan has passed away this morning.”

The news of the young men’s deaths has caused widespread devastation.

Diversions are in place with Omagh-bound traffic being diverted via Seskinore, Fintona and Dromore, and Ballygawley-bound traffic via Beragh.

Ass Ch Con Alan Todd said police were appealing for information about the two-vehicle collision.

“With many people enjoying some time off over the coming Christmas holidays, I am appealing to all road users to exercise caution, as our statistics illustrate that, like any other holiday period, there is an increased risk of collisions,” he added.

“To date this year, unfortunately, 66 people have been killed on our roads.

“Over the Christmas holidays we will have additional police resources on the roads across Northern Ireland and we will be liaising closely with our An Garda Siochana Traffic Corps colleagues in the border counties.”

SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan said the community was shocked by what had happened.

“There are no words to justify just how devastating, awful and heartbreaking the news is today,” he added.

“Two families, an entire community deeply devastated by the reality of these people losing their lives by what is, and continues to be, an extremely dangerous road.”